chico grande
/t͡ʃiko ɡɾande/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase "big boy" is translated as chico grande.
The term refers to an independent adult male.
Meaning: An independent adult male (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the informal phrase nene grande is used to refer to a big boy, especially when speaking to a child.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃiko ɡɾande/
Did you know?
- In certain regions, the word chico might not be of Latin origin at all, but instead a borrow from the Yucatec Maya word chiʼik.
- Depending on the region, chico can function as both a noun meaning 'boy' and an adjective meaning 'small'.
- If you use the phrase nene grande to an adult, you are using a term typically reserved for children, which can sound patronizing or highly affectionate depending on the tone.
Examples in context
- John es un chico grande.John is a big boy.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the use of chico grande.Tatoeba #1178637 by marcelostockle, translation #1098011 by cntrational
- Eres un nene grande ahora, ¿verdad?You're a big boy now, aren't you?
- Ese chavo/muchacho grande juega muy bien al fútbolThat big boy plays soccer really well
Example conversation
Sofía tells Mateo he can manage his own finances.
- SofíaMateo, ya eres un chico grande.Mateo, you are a big boy now.
- MateoLo sé, puedo manejar mi dinero.I know, I can handle my money.
- SofíaEntonces no necesitas que yo te ayude.Then you don't need me to help you.
- MateoExacto, ya no soy un niño.Exactly, I'm not a child anymore.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chico, grande, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
